INF/IFD/W/ 30 
 
20 January  2021 
(21-0621) Page: 1/3 
 Original: English  
 
WTO STRUCTURED DISCUSSIONS ON  
INVESTMENT FACILITATION FOR  DEVELOPMENT  
NEGOTIATING MEETING OF 25-26 JANUA RY 2021 
ANNOTATED AGENDA BY THE COORDINATOR  
As indicated in the Convening Notice  circulated to all WTO Members on 12 January 2021 , the main 
purpose of this open-ended negotiating  meeting is : 
a. For the Coordinator t o debrief Members about his recent informal bilateral consultations 
and briefly present the organization of work for the first half of 2021;  
b. To discuss the revised draft text prepared by the Coordinator  circulated to all Members on 
13 January 2021 ; and  
c. To continue the negotiations on an Agreement on investment facilitation for development  
(as outlined in agenda item 2 below) .  
In kee ping with the Joint I nitiative 's open, transpar ent and inclusive nature , all WTO Members are 
invited to attend and participate  in this open-ended  negotiating meeting . 
1  DEBRIEFING ABOUT THE COORDINATOR'S INFORMAL BILATERAL CONSULTATIONS  
AND ORGANIZATION OF W ORK FOR THE FIRST HALF OF 2021  
1.1.  The Coordinator will debrief Members on the main take -aways from his informal bilateral 
consultations with interested delegations held virtually  between 19 and 21 January .1 On that basis, 
the Coordinator  will outline  his ideas regarding the organization of work for the first half of 2021 .2  
1.2.  Thereafter, Members will be invited to share any comments they may have on the organi zation 
of work  for this first half of the year . 
2  NEGOTIATIONS ON INVESTMENT FACILI TATION FOR DEVELOPMEN T  
2.1  General i ntroduction and discussion of new text proposals submitted by Members 
since the last meeting  
2.1.  Since the last negotiating meeting held on 7-8 Decem ber 2020,  the following communication s 
have been circulated  to all Members : a Communication from Morocco including a comprehensive 
text proposal ;3 a joint communication from China and Turkey on the facilitation of the entry and 
temporary stay of business persons for investment purposes ,4 which replaces the previous proposals 
on the same element separately submitted by th ese same  Members ; as well as a Communication 
 
1 The invitation to these (virtual) informal bilateral consultations had been sent to all Members on 
15 December  2020.  
2 A proposed schedule of meetings for the period January -July 2021 was circulated in document 
INF/IFD/W/29, dated 15 December 2021.  
3 Document INF/IFD/RD/ 64 of 12 January 2021. 
4 Document INF/IFD/RD/65  of 19 January 2021.  INF/IFD/W/ 30 
 
- 2 - 
 
  from Chinese Taipei with text proposals regarding different provisions contained in the informal 
consolidated text5.   
2.2.  The Membe rs concerned, as well as any other Members having submitted new text proposals 
before the meeting,  will be invited to make a general introduction of  their submissions. Thereafter, 
the floor will be opened for general  questions and comments from delegations  on the propos als 
submitted .  
2.2  Discussion o f new elements contained in proposals submitted by Members since the 
last meeting  
2.3.  Under this agenda item, Morocco will have the opportunity to present  the new elements  
contained i n its proposal , namely :6    
a. Compliance with domestic laws and international obligations (section III Quater ); 
b. Maintenance of public health, labour, environmental and safety standards  (element 7 in 
section VI); and  
c. Social and environmental responsibility (element 10 in section VI).  
2.4.  After the presentation of the proposal (s) on such new elements , the floor will be open ed for 
questions and comments from delegations . 
2.3  New proposals contained in  Section III bis of the Informal Consolidated Text  
2.5.  Under this agenda item, China and Turkey will have the opportunity to present their joint 
proposal on Facilitation of the entry and temporary stay of business persons for investment purposes  
(contained in document INF/IFD/ RD/65).  Likewise , Morocco will have the opportunity to introduce 
the specifics of its text proposal on Facilitation of movement of natural persons for investment 
purposes ( contained in document INF/IFD/ RD/64).7 
2.4  Discussion of the Revised Draft Text prepared by the Coordin ator 
2.6.  Following a brief introduction by the Coordinator of the latest version of the Revised Draft Text8 
covering both the revisions made to the previous version and the newly added provision s, the floor 
will be opened on the Revised Draft Text, provision by provision, to hear Members' views.  
2.7.  Under this agenda item, under each relevant provision as appropri ate, Morocco and any other 
delegation s having submitted a proposal on elements addressed in the Revised Draft Text since the 
last meeting will have the opportunity to introduce the specifics  of their text proposal (s). There after, 
the floor will be opened for questions and comments from delegations.  
2.5  Continuation of the negotiations  based on the Informal Consolidated Text  
2.8.  Members will continue negotiations  based on the latest version of the informal consolidated 
text (INF/IFD/RD/50/ Rev.7) – alongside  any other available text proposals by Members not yet 
incorporated into it, as appropriate . Members are encouraged to focus on concrete drafting 
formulations  with a view to mak ing progress and enabling the Coordinator to evaluate whether 
revised draft text can be presented on the respective provisions, as appropriate.  
 
5 Document INF/IFD/RD/66 of 20 January 2021 . 
6 These new elements  have been included in the latest version of the informal consolidated text  
contained in document INF/IFD/RD/50/Rev.7.  The references between brackets included in items a., b. and c. 
are to the sections/elements of th at informal consolidated text.  
7 Note t hat both text proposals have been  reflected in the informal consolidated text contained in 
document INF/IFD/RD/50/Rev.7, under Section III bis.  
8 Revised Draft Text by the Coordinator, restricted document without symbol, dated 13 January 2021  – 
which has been circulated to all WTO Members . INF/IFD/W/ 30 
 
- 3 - 
 
  2.9.  The negotiations will resume on the sections/provisions of the informal consolidated text  listed  
below , and in the order  indicated below .  References  between brackets are to the sections and 
paragraphs of the informal consolidated text .  
1. Risk management techniques and "Silen ce is consent" principle ( element 1 0 Bis in 
section II I of the informal consolidated text ) 
2. Fees and charges – Financial  services (element 12 Bis in section III)  
3. Enquiry  points ; Contact/Focal Points/Ombudsperson types of mechanisms ; and 
Investment  Facilitat or (element  5 in section II and element 18 in section IV)   
4. Single Portal (element 15 in section III ), which will be addressed together with the new 
text proposal on 'single window' contained  in document INF/IFD/RD/64 ( element 15 entitled 
'One-Stop Shop/Single Window -Types of Mechanisms ' of the informal consolidated text ) 
5. Business alert mechanism (paragraphs 18.2 and 18.3 included under element 18 in 
section IV)  
6. Domestic supplier database s (element 20 in section IV ) 
7. Cross -cutting Issues  (section VI) : 
• Responsible business conduct (element  26) 
• Measures against corruption (element  27) 
8. Exceptions (secti on VII):  
• General exceptions  (element  29) 
• Security exception (element  30) 
• [Financial Exceptions]  (element  30 Bis) 
3  OTHER B USINESS   
__________